South Georgia Technical College was recognized as the 8th Best Two-Year College in the United States in a poll released by EDsmart.org recently. Edsmart also listed SGTC as the 16th Best Value Two-Year College in the U.S. The overall rankings can be found at: Best Community & Trade Colleges In The U.S. - EDsmart.
A total of 1,368 Title IV-participating, sub-baccalaureate institutions across all 50 states were analyzed utilizing data from the 2023 – 2024 College Scorecard. The data centered on affordability, academic success (completion and transfer rates) and student support (share of full-time faculty). These colleges offer the lowest cost-of-living adjusted net prices while maintaining quality academic programs.
“This is a tremendous honor,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “When looking at which college or university to attend, most individuals consider cost. South Georgia Technical College is affordable but we also provide an outstanding education and support for our students.”
The average net price to attend South Georgia Technical College is $915 (after financial aid) and its overall score by EDsmart was 66.0. SGTC had a completion rate of 57.3% which was the third highest among the top 10 colleges. Pennsylvania’s Williamson College of the Trades was listed as the top two-year college for 2025 by EDsmart and its score was 74.4 with a 66.3% completion rate. The adjusted net price annually to attend the Pennsylvania college was $1,454.
As states address workforce shortages and families navigate rising education costs, community colleges, technical colleges, and specialized two-year institutions have become critical engines of economic mobility. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, millions of Americans rely on two-year institutions for accessible paths to degrees and careers through associate degrees, certificates and workforce training programs. EdSmart analyzed the Title IV institutions using the last College Scorecard extract to determine which institutions truly deliver value.
“This ranking and others are designed to help students assess the affordability and value of top colleges in the U.S. so they can make informed decisions about which college to attend,” explained South Georgia Tech President Dr. John Watford. “South Georgia Technical College does not accept federal loans but does provides the use textbooks at no cost to students which is tremendous savings for our students.”
As of the second quarter of 2024, student loan debt in the U.S. stands at a total of $1.74 trillion. More than 92% of this is federal student loan debt, while the remaining amount is owed on private student loans. Another alarming statistic is that 14% of student debt was ninety days or more delinquent or in default. That doesn’t even account for half of the loans that are in deferment, grace periods, or forbearance, which tends to end up delinquent, too.
“Graduating without student debt is a worthy goal. Most of our students graduate without debt and that is something that we are extremely proud of,” said Dr. Watford. “With the HOPE grant, HOPE Career Grant, HOPE Scholarship, Federal Financial Aid (PELL), and scholarships, our students are able to get a top quality education without a loan. SGTC also has a 99% job placement rate for graduates.”
South Georgia Technical College was one of three Georgia Colleges listed in the top 10 spots and one of four in the top 20. Coastal Pines Technical College, Southern Regional Technical College and Wiregrass Technical College were the other Georgia institutions listed.
South Georgia Technical College is currently registering students for Spring Semester. Classes start January 7th. No application fee is being offered during November. Students can visit www.southgatech.edu and click on Apply Now at the top right-hand side of the homepage. FREEAPP26 is the code to avoid the $25 registration fee in November.
SGTC is one of only two technical colleges in Georgia with on-campus housing. SGTC offers over 200 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit educational opportunities. SGTC also provides students with the “Complete College Experience” with on-campus housing, nationally ranked academics, student activities, and intercollegiate athletics.